tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79888815225546973612024-03-13T21:49:49.754-06:00The Suburban SettlerDebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.comBlogger294125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-88915309748863320072014-02-13T10:30:00.002-06:002014-02-13T10:30:55.128-06:00Please Sign the Guest Book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was out shopping craft stores in prep for a tea party I'm hosting tomorrow and bought this: a tea ministry guest book. Wish I'd got a start with it last fall, but I suppose the new year is also a good time to begin a trove of memories. First entry is appropriately a Valentine's Day tea for my son and his girlfriend. More tea party talk will fill blank pages after tomorrow's tea for a local prayer group. <br />
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Happy memories!<br />
<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-59044262884993400592014-02-11T15:25:00.001-06:002014-02-11T15:25:21.954-06:00Now Why Didn't I Think of That?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After watching a few days of the winter Olympics, I dare say most knitters are itching to play with a Fair Isle pattern somehow or another. A pillow, a headband, a single-flower potholder if nothing else. All these Nordic hats and scarves covered with Fair Isle patterns are just too enticing!<br />
<br />
So I checked out a book at the library called <strong>The Very Easy Guide to Fair Isle Knitting</strong>, by Lynne Watterson. I already have a little experience with Fair Isle, but this book had a wonderful collection of patterns--enough to make your head spin. The treasure trove of patterns, however, will not be the biggest take-away from this book for me. That award goes to the easy fringe lesson in the very back of the book.<br />
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I've fringed scarves for years. I cut a single piece to check for size, then use that piece as a guide to cut others. They're all basically the same size, but cutting enough to fringe a scarf or poncho is tedious work.<br />
Then I saw the above illustration.<br />
Oh my, that would be so quick! Wrap the yarn evenly around a piece of cardboard that is basically the length you want for the fringe, make a complete wrap for each piece of fringe, then simply cut along the bottom. <br />
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I'm sure my other fringe-making friends out there are saying, "Well, duh. Of course that's how you make it." But for me, this was revolutionary. My mind simply doesn't go to efficiency of its own accord. I have to be led there. This will mean fringe starts appearing on so much around here!<br />
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Happy embellishing!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-72360782598292382612014-02-10T07:10:00.000-06:002014-02-10T07:10:51.986-06:00Berry Muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Are you starting to miss the apples and oranges and bananas from those Christmas fruit baskets now that they've been gone for a while? <br />
If so, it's time to visit the freezer or go to the "freshest" stock available on the produce shelves to get that kick of fruit fiber and vitamin C. I did both for the muffins featured in this post--thawing the blueberries and purchasing the cranberries.<br />
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Berries--fresh or frozen--dress up even the mot basic muffin recipe, like the one from Better Homes and Gardens that's included here:<br />
<br />
<strong>Basic Muffins</strong><br />
1 egg<br />
3/4 C milk<br />
1/3 C cooking oil<br />
1 3/4 C all purpose flour<br />
1/4 C sugar<br />
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder<br />
3/4 tsp. salt<br />
<br />
Prepare muffin pan or line with muffin cups and preheat oven to 400 degrees.<br />
In a small bowl, slightly beat eggs before beating in milk and oil. Set aside. In a larger bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Make a well, and add liquid all at once, mixing. Stir until just lumpy, but don't over-stir. Spoon into prepared muffin cups and bake 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.<br />
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To this basic recipe you can add:<br />
1 C frozen berries thawed and drained and 2 T sugar or 1 C cranberries (coarsely chopped) and 3/4 C sugar. If desired, add 1/4-1/2 C of chopped walnuts or pecans, too. Stir in gently just before spooning into muffin cups. <br />
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Now, to find another basic recipe to embellish, this time one for thawing chicken and a quart of thawing tomatoes...<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-73080068568964945182014-01-17T17:14:00.001-06:002014-01-17T17:14:18.078-06:00Arm Knitting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Forget that co-worker's birthday? <br />
The one who gave you the fabulous gift on YOUR last birthday? <br />
Want to give something that says "I made this for you?" even though you know you hardly have the time to make anything? Not a problem!<br />
<br />
What you see in the above pic is my arm in the first stage of "arm-knitting" a scarf according to a tutorial video found <a href="http://www.michaels.com/videos/2013-12-30-yarn-01,default,pg.html?cm_mmc=EMAIL-_-0116Yarn-_-b1-_-ArmKnitting" target="_blank">here</a>. The tutorial--posted on the Michaels stores website-- is quick and easy to follow--although I did have to mute the happy little background music. By the third or fourth run through the tune, I was getting nauseated and besides I needed to concentrate on her hand work!<br />
According to friends who are doing this, I should be able to make a nice big cowl scarf in about an hour! Well...of course I rose to that challenge.<br />
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By golly, they were right! <br />
One hour later, I'm wearing this new cowl scarf! It's double-wrapped here, but can be worn long like a big strand of swingy-pearls. Never fear! You can make that gift, and in plenty of time! She'll never know you forgot until the very last minute.<br />
What's more, it could be a great project for using up scraps. This scarf is such a loose weave it hardly used much yarn at all!<br />
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Happy arm-knitting!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-70916880343048680592014-01-10T15:40:00.000-06:002014-01-10T21:34:34.032-06:00Garden Poetry in WinterWinter; and Winter's New Year.<br />
A beautiful time to sit and reflect on what is behind...what is ahead...and what should rightly come around again with the spring thaw.<br />
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<br />
Envoi to a Poem by G.K. Chesterton<br />
<br />
Clear was the night; the moon was young;<br />
The larkspurs in the plots<br />
Mingled their orange with the gold<br />
Of the forget-me-nots.<br />
<br />
The poppies seemed a silver mist;<br />
So darkly fell the gloom.<br />
You scarce had guessed yon crimson streaks<br />
Were buttercups in bloom.<br />
<br />
But one thing moved: a little child<br />
Crashed through the flower and fern;<br />
And all my soul rose up to greet<br />
The sage of whom I learn.<br />
...<br />
<br />
"My brain demands complexity,"<br />
The lisping cherub cried.<br />
I looked at him, and only said,<br />
"Go on. The world is wide."<br />
<br />
A tear rolled down his pinafore,<br />
"Yet from my life must pass<br />
The simple love of sun and moon,<br />
The old games in the grass;<br />
<br />
"Now that my back is to my home<br />
Could these again be found?"<br />
I looked on him and only said,<br />
"Go on. The world is round."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">--from <strong>Collected Nonsense and Light Verse</strong> published by Dodd, Mead and Co., Inc., 1987</span><br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-40022537792370558532014-01-09T11:21:00.000-06:002014-01-09T18:11:27.418-06:00Pumpkin Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What do you do besides bringing in THIS much wood to dry when the weather team forecasts 48 hours of -10 to -40 degree temperatures? If you're like me, you make a visit to your much-more-temperate garage freezer and look for something to bake.<br />
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I decided to go with a pumpkin spice cake, so I took in a bag of pumpkin puree to thaw. I processed a single large pumpkin this year and got about 4 bags of puree from it. One of those bags went into this cake you see cooling alongside the all-day chili pot.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Spiced Pumpkin Cake</span></strong><br />
1/2 C softened butter<br />
1/2 C packed brown sugar<br />
2 eggs<br />
3/4 C eggnog<br />
3/4 C pureed pumpkin<br />
1/4 C honey<br />
2 1/2 C all-purpose flour<br />
2 tsp. shredded orange peel<br />
1 tsp. baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp. salt<br />
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon<br />
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />
Grease and flour 9 x 13 baking pan. Cream together sugar and butter, then add eggs and blend well. Combine pumpkin, honey, and eggnog in another mixing bowl. Then, combine thoroughly the flour, orange peel, soda, salt and spices. Alternately add dry ingredients and creamed butter mix to the liquid ingredients. Put into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool thoroughly. Either frost with a cream cheese frosting or sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-32062600378576410282014-01-08T10:45:00.000-06:002014-01-08T10:49:03.749-06:00The So-Good Cup of Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a counter-balance to yesterday's post about the not-so-good cup of tea, today we'll see the most basic elements in creating a <em>very</em> good cup of tea. The thing about brewing tea is that you have to account for its diversity. Both brewing times and brewing temperatures vary depending on the type of tea you're making. Here's a very brief tutorial on it.<br />
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First of all, brewing times vary from 1 minute to 5 depending on tea types and strength preferences. I received this wonderful little timer from one of my spiritual direction clients as a Christmas gift. It's color-coded to display recommended brewing times for various tea types: 1 minute for green, 2 for white, 3 for blacks and 5 for herbals. That said, my personal preference is 3 for both greens and whites and 5 for blacks and herbals, but I like a strong tea. I do find, however, that greens brewed at 5 minutes take on a grassy bitterness, so that "extra" 2 minutes really does make a difference!<br />
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Besides brewing times, brewing temps can add to the subtlety of the tea's flavor as well. Here is a chart that was included with my electric tea pot. A stove-top kettle wouldn't give you this much temperature control automatically, you'd have to monitor the water with a thermometer for that; but with an electric kettle you can simply set the temp you want and wait for the beep.<br />
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So there you are. All ready to brew the perfect cup of tea!<br />
<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-81497522153621219442014-01-07T10:38:00.000-06:002014-01-07T10:38:11.128-06:00A (not so) Nice Cup of Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This blog post's title is the heading for a section in a fascinating little cookbook I picked up at the library: <em>What Einstein Told His Cook,</em> by Robert Wolke. <br />
Wolke is a former chemistry professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and his cookbook is a mix of recipes, short articles and FAQs, all clustered around the literal science of food and cooking. Here's what he has to say about this post's topic:<br />
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<em><span style="background-color: #783f04;">When I make tea with microwave-heated water, why doesn't it taste as good as when I make it with teakettle water?</span></em><br />
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Microwave heated water isn't as hot as kettle-heated water, even though it may look like it's boiling.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Water for tea must be boiling hot in order to extract all the color and flavor. Caffeine, for example, won't dissolve in water that's much cooler than 175 degrees. That's why the teapot--or if you're a bag-at-a-time brewer, the cup--should be preheated, to prevent the water from cooling too much during brewing. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">When you've got a full, vigorous boil going in a tea kettle you know that all of the water is boiling hot--around 212 degrees. That's because the heated water at the bottom of the kettle rises, to be replaced by cooler water, which then becomes heated and rises, and so on. So the entire kettleful reaches boiling temperatures at pretty much the same time. The bubbling further mixes it to a uniform temperature.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">But microwaves heat only the outer inch or so of the water all around the cup, because that's as far as they can penetrate. The water in the middle of the cup gets hot more slowly, through contact with the outer portions. When the outer portions of the water have reached boiling temperature and start to bubble, you can be tricked into thinking all of the water in the cup is that hot. But the average temperature may be much lower, and your tea will be short-changed of good flavor.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #783f04;">Another reason that kettle-heated water is better is that heating a cup of water to boiling in a microwave oven can be tricky.</span> <br />
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Happy cookbook review!<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-2001109670938191862014-01-06T11:35:00.000-06:002014-01-06T11:35:35.156-06:00Tea Pilgrimages This has to be the most unique <a href="http://www.viralnova.com/dangerous-trail-huashan/" target="_blank">tea pilgrimage</a> I've found yet. I can't imagine how surreal a pot of tea would be to the one who had just completed this pilgrimage!<br />
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Happy scary dreams!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-63675161672672062802014-01-05T17:30:00.003-06:002014-01-05T17:32:59.690-06:00Sabbath Rest: On Making Socks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: black;">Remember ye not the former things, </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: black;">neither consider the things of old. </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: black;">Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? </span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="background-color: #ea9999;">I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">Isaiah 43:18-19</span></div>
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I've been considering the symbolism locked in the making of a pair of wool socks.</div>
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If the sock itself had consciousness during its creation, it would probably be confused at the point shown in the picture above. The ribbed cuff, the leg, all come along smoothly in rounds of knit and pearl. But then suddenly, the Maker rearranges the stitches, ignores half of them and starts focusing solely (pardon the pun) on the heel. Back and forth. Longer and longer. While the rest of the sock just hangs, neglected, seemingly forgotten. What's going on here?</div>
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But if the sock abides, eventually the work of making and then turning the heel is completed. Suddenly, the dangling needles clatter back into action, and stitches are picked up, seams are made to bring old things into the circle again, joining with the new patch, taking on a complex shape distinctly fitted for its purpose, and everything makes "sense" again as the foot forms. </div>
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Likewise, God's new things don't waste the old ones, don't leave them dangling forever like superfluous work, but ultimately bring them all into a harmony of purpose once again.</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-32827564016302857772014-01-01T12:05:00.000-06:002014-01-01T20:32:24.242-06:00Summer Work's Role in the Holiday Meal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So how much does last summer's processed garden fare factor into a holiday menu?<br />
Quite a bit.<br />
From the freezer came the corn cut form the cob, green beans and vinegar slaw (cabbage and beans are "must eats" on New Year's Day!) While I didn't grow the peppers last summer, in past years the jalapeño cheddar dip might have used a jar of home-canned jalapeño peppers in oil. (We simply had to resort to buying them this year.) And, from the spice stock came the herb mix that, blended with butter and flour, encrusted the prime rib. Herbs including rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram and parsley flavored the meat richly.<br />
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The taste of summer comes to the winter table even as the anticipation of the holiday meal invigorates the summer labor. A beautiful balance.<br />
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Happy New Year's dining!<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-43012159376799033532013-12-31T17:16:00.000-06:002013-12-31T17:16:09.124-06:00In the Interim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So the Christmas rush is over, and you finally have time to sit for a spell and enjoy your own holiday decorations before they all come down and return to their storage bins. Here in the eye of the storm that is the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, we find a moment to catch our breath. <br />
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But even as you take that breather, your mind is already envisioning the novelty-food needs for the upcoming holiday's party. If you made a double batch of that Chex mix I <a href="http://suburbansettler.blogspot.com/2013/12/sharing-my-only-secret-recipe.html" target="_blank">blogged here</a>, then you probable still have enough of it, but what about candy?<br />
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A quick and easy candy option has us revisit another old blog post about that highly versatile <a href="http://suburbansettler.blogspot.com/2013/12/easy-chocolate-dipping-sauce.html" target="_blank">melting chocolate</a>. Besides using the chocolate as a dipping source for fruits, pretzels, etc., it can also simply be poured out on waxed paper and spread thinly, then sprinkled with anything from nuts and candies to toffee chips, peanut butter chips, etc. Let the candy cool. When it hardens, break it into chunks most often called "bark" in candy lingo.<br />
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These are 5-minute candy recipes, folks! So sit a few minutes longer. Enjoy that late afternoon sunlight shining on your mantle display. Brew that extra pot of tea. </div>
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And, speaking of tea, keep these recipes handy for your traditional tea party plans. To be authentic, everything served at a tea party must be homemade, and these candies complete the dessert tier of the tea server nicely. A piece of candy to top off a scone and fruit sets the menu for the dessert course.</div>
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More on the tea menu in a later post, but for now...</div>
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Happy relaxing!</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-51067303809648343632013-12-26T11:48:00.000-06:002013-12-26T12:18:50.935-06:00Sharing My Only Secret Recipe...because I'm just like that!
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For many years, my Chex mix recipe was as generic as they come: it was found on the back of the box of Chex cereal. Gradually, however, I began to experiment. Now, I have what is considered a delicious but "secret" recipe for seasoning the mix.<br />
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In the spirit of generosity, I'm sharing it here on the blog.<br />
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I begin with the classic mix of a variety of Chex-styled cereals, 15 cups total. Add 2 cups of various nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, etc.; 2 cups pretzels and 2 cups of garlic bagel chips, goldfish crackers, melba toast etc. Mix all these well. <br />
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In a separate bowl, melt a stick of butter and add 1 tsp. of salt and 4 tsp. of Worcestershire sauce. Now, for the secret ingredient: 1 1/2 tbsp. of Rogan Josh, a spice from Penzey's Spice store.<br />
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Mix these together then stir into the food mix to coat. <br />
Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.<br />
Allow to cool and then store in an air-tight container.<br />
(This recipe can be doubled.)<br />
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More traditional recipes might have you building a spice blend of your own from things like coriander, cumin, salt, onion and garlic powders, but trying a pre-made spice blend can be a fun way to experiment with new flavorings. Next I might try a batch with a California spice blend. <br />
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Happy experimenting!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-15605146949971928202013-12-21T11:45:00.000-06:002013-12-21T11:45:46.429-06:00Sometimes I Forget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVEN74Ske14ZbcLjCOUM1U7d5nMIX05OB8Awh9AYM3uGXO-q35jRt8JQxoPy7OaEJDPLOhqgSCBkCYl3yEv_nK1W-l9JQJ56h_xdBICkiDr3yg5V-fYJaWxU4HC5bVHcPK6e_G97yX51G/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVEN74Ske14ZbcLjCOUM1U7d5nMIX05OB8Awh9AYM3uGXO-q35jRt8JQxoPy7OaEJDPLOhqgSCBkCYl3yEv_nK1W-l9JQJ56h_xdBICkiDr3yg5V-fYJaWxU4HC5bVHcPK6e_G97yX51G/s320/IMG_1084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Sometimes I forget. <br />
I forget how treacherous the natural world can be. <br />
I think of water as a place to play...<br />
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I think of the outdoors as a place to rest and relax...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7hCt95OyJLWPzDkRQiXP93R9EFZ2s3jJwi2k8SJreAE8FoydVO4woEiQeACSYWkFzqgH4Zj_jiGyESC6Q8WQh3R9QjiEhjPLwtvEOol5vfxrW0CxEZa3pIis_Od-fMtLyltEyJL10__1/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7hCt95OyJLWPzDkRQiXP93R9EFZ2s3jJwi2k8SJreAE8FoydVO4woEiQeACSYWkFzqgH4Zj_jiGyESC6Q8WQh3R9QjiEhjPLwtvEOol5vfxrW0CxEZa3pIis_Od-fMtLyltEyJL10__1/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
...or maybe to work, but...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2r97xWI84CZS8YcMs8ys9-PFqG1Bj4-faEmQxyQUfGPtsCu8QOJQNln63Vrjwk20jdfuAWMoAbjWKL6gubJUyiDX25j-3Ax4oCEFnXXoE_Z_cz6uo8TMwrORKqX2JEmz8cRG3PcayGON/s1600/IMG_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2r97xWI84CZS8YcMs8ys9-PFqG1Bj4-faEmQxyQUfGPtsCu8QOJQNln63Vrjwk20jdfuAWMoAbjWKL6gubJUyiDX25j-3Ax4oCEFnXXoE_Z_cz6uo8TMwrORKqX2JEmz8cRG3PcayGON/s320/IMG_0976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...a work that carries a bounteous return.<br />
<br />
I forget sometimes, that nature can have her moments of wildness. <br />
Moments when she tests us. <br />
How well do we tend to each other in the aftermath of her more furious moments? <br />
Do we put aside our debates and our arguments, our boycotts and our promotions when the needs of others warrant it? <br />
<a href="http://www.upworthy.com/20th-century-fox-gave-him-25000-to-make-a-movie-trailer-heres-what-he-did-instead?g=2" target="_blank">This one</a> says "Yes! We still do!"Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-18522913153669305452013-12-20T14:17:00.000-06:002013-12-20T14:17:47.180-06:00Winter Woolen Workshop, Promo Post #2<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>As promised, a photo essay of past festival pics.</em></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO53tuYc3VZuT404k-ZFNrNS9Gd8FKH_M7ZnWgPPAu7vxAhqiXpLtVXmSouonJp5tSuTu7BavLrTlqdHR5YTXsYL8-023kbUG-Knq24ZS5DWNtST1PitobihzYDolqFLe0RRr0GA2F7-Y/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO53tuYc3VZuT404k-ZFNrNS9Gd8FKH_M7ZnWgPPAu7vxAhqiXpLtVXmSouonJp5tSuTu7BavLrTlqdHR5YTXsYL8-023kbUG-Knq24ZS5DWNtST1PitobihzYDolqFLe0RRr0GA2F7-Y/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The friend who first showed me how to properly use a drop-spindle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWBxpsnotFJFTIAaxwB3l8p-zr2ZiqXl2-oH912pHiTGWIuk1DazLqcWNj_xUZo23HoQ7iYSZK4XnPpMGwBwFTwHHmEULRbveVMhLQeFkDEFlh9rLF3LqhBYjUmGdavsUDwCv3gSkrbjH/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWBxpsnotFJFTIAaxwB3l8p-zr2ZiqXl2-oH912pHiTGWIuk1DazLqcWNj_xUZo23HoQ7iYSZK4XnPpMGwBwFTwHHmEULRbveVMhLQeFkDEFlh9rLF3LqhBYjUmGdavsUDwCv3gSkrbjH/s400/009.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cashiers being serenaded by folk musicians.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn6QyyQWdQvjGA_dqB3I1D8Bfbr9J9A6-vKTaoqrmuHW1O0rgAOJkLPgLLGL4FL2Ye00B9Qv6f7mm5IMXJPClbL5arSsX42yXhmycqVgfzfHM2xKvyU-ueStt5TsjQfNx3uE-mQo_ugKL/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn6QyyQWdQvjGA_dqB3I1D8Bfbr9J9A6-vKTaoqrmuHW1O0rgAOJkLPgLLGL4FL2Ye00B9Qv6f7mm5IMXJPClbL5arSsX42yXhmycqVgfzfHM2xKvyU-ueStt5TsjQfNx3uE-mQo_ugKL/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping mecca</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbh_MTCEJgQa0GfTgBKMC1T4a6Zn1YQXfnEKZOreJCPDHChRJlkJfDHLokqRdHEqiOIbp_fZQ-csvhXFn0Dl8ytqo9zTPnXWG1n8Osyshi6to9uVLo5GiqXTWA2iUQvhUdxcV_A7oaCIt/s1600/602132_10152647502970564_1828983739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbh_MTCEJgQa0GfTgBKMC1T4a6Zn1YQXfnEKZOreJCPDHChRJlkJfDHLokqRdHEqiOIbp_fZQ-csvhXFn0Dl8ytqo9zTPnXWG1n8Osyshi6to9uVLo5GiqXTWA2iUQvhUdxcV_A7oaCIt/s320/602132_10152647502970564_1828983739_n.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie on one of the standard museum exhibit floors.</td></tr>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-22527448790096946222013-12-19T14:33:00.000-06:002013-12-19T14:33:09.531-06:00Easy Chocolate-dipping Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyZHjDfKaO6egfJZJmSKPNMoFv5dAyobqV9lZGgGxo4Qod2l9m7oEsyi_RUt95sg-ydLrzUrClhYpDiziQwc3CSZMoVbN1jk7UkFvoA-N0ccCl2qCQygbekjSYCevUpcTc3FDCm1OxSBh/s1600/PICT1427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyZHjDfKaO6egfJZJmSKPNMoFv5dAyobqV9lZGgGxo4Qod2l9m7oEsyi_RUt95sg-ydLrzUrClhYpDiziQwc3CSZMoVbN1jk7UkFvoA-N0ccCl2qCQygbekjSYCevUpcTc3FDCm1OxSBh/s320/PICT1427.JPG" width="220" /></a></div>
Want to know a quick easy dessert recipe? <br />
I mean easier than a boxed cake mix.<br />
Almost as easy as opening a bag of store-bought cookies and dishing up ice cream.<br />
Dipping chocolate.<br />
That's it. <br />
Dipping chocolate. <br />
It's easy to make even without a double boiler. If you have a microwave, you're three minutes away from dipping whatever your little heart desires.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAddbhuaxOiRJlnZ_c0NET7NC610iiEzEQA7_9oukDliKycW0vhq_QzvTs1UDRz2POlNbp3_VjjawmXezdbqbFlTsVUP1gy2drK31-PD6KLIUt3PR6P7IwoJ1ne3ZjfkrHxnWv1zf92io/s1600/PICT1428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAddbhuaxOiRJlnZ_c0NET7NC610iiEzEQA7_9oukDliKycW0vhq_QzvTs1UDRz2POlNbp3_VjjawmXezdbqbFlTsVUP1gy2drK31-PD6KLIUt3PR6P7IwoJ1ne3ZjfkrHxnWv1zf92io/s320/PICT1428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Set the power at level 6 or 7, and give a few blocks of chocolate 2 minutes of cook time. Depending on how much chocolate you're melting, the 2 minutes might be sufficient and you can start dipping then and there. If, however, a few un-melted chunks are still floating after a little stirring, give it another 10 seconds and stir again. You might throw in a few dark chocolate chips as well, to give it a richer flavor, but the cooking process remains the same. You could even melt white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips using the same process. But, I digress. <br />
Back to the dipping.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw-QPtJ0oQpRyPb-kb1497gQaQiBTk3HpHN2gyJgOhFq7h-iEHcPGdWjdbt3ckIsQZIIrYk_hyphenhyphen6FYFveSn_9iE6XYv1z5r_8Q6vvgaC6e24S89t705lhtgxtnrYTicCSdzEwamthT3rFk/s1600/PICT1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw-QPtJ0oQpRyPb-kb1497gQaQiBTk3HpHN2gyJgOhFq7h-iEHcPGdWjdbt3ckIsQZIIrYk_hyphenhyphen6FYFveSn_9iE6XYv1z5r_8Q6vvgaC6e24S89t705lhtgxtnrYTicCSdzEwamthT3rFk/s320/PICT1429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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If dipping strawberries, I'd advise you dry them after washing, and select ones that are firm, without soft spots. Both moisture and soft spots cause the chocolate to fail to adhere to the berry. After dipping, scrape the bottom of the berry against the side of the bowl to avoid dripping, then place it in a cupcake paper on a cookie sheet to dry. I'd refrigerate until ready to use.<br />
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Chocolate-dipped berries are an easy item to prep and take to holiday parties or serve up at a holiday luncheon. But don't forget, you can always dip other things like pretzels or marshmallows, too. <br />
What's more, you can pour the remaining liquid chocolate into a greased and parchment-lined pan, scatter peppermint chips, nuts, etc. across it, refrigerate until it sets, and then break it into chunks for an easy chocolate "candy" option.<br />
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Happy dipping!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-23848442327542720392013-12-18T12:55:00.004-06:002013-12-18T13:00:58.937-06:00Tea Party Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAEg2nTYX3t7Xdkwfs_ygwiHuDfYm-za4ENIN3gzOBEQf63tjMgQgFc-6KRKU_KQ8A8aYUUe10FpyXxyUkdblhg4HsjR24VWJkpzGL5iqpSMB0Vbir0QO-MXW0FEJH1yGcBPASUlJ9fBK/s1600/248959_10152266697620564_1274486656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAEg2nTYX3t7Xdkwfs_ygwiHuDfYm-za4ENIN3gzOBEQf63tjMgQgFc-6KRKU_KQ8A8aYUUe10FpyXxyUkdblhg4HsjR24VWJkpzGL5iqpSMB0Vbir0QO-MXW0FEJH1yGcBPASUlJ9fBK/s320/248959_10152266697620564_1274486656_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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A year ago, I worked at a tea parlor in a wonderful old Victorian house downtown. There I learned much about the art of hosting tea parties; what's more, I discovered I had a deep appreciation for an area of hospitality work that had never occurred to me. <br />
I learned I loved serving tea.<br />
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The owners were wonderful about allowing me to borrow from their library, and soon I had an accordion file of notes about serving teas--notes filled with recipes, theme ideas, etc. I began to envision myself incorporating tea service into some ministry initiatives that were already taking shape in my life. <br />
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For one thing, I started attending school to become a spiritual director. And, I began running my appointments with directees in a little bistro corner of the library/music room in my house, a corner that was easy to transform into a mini-tea parlor. We would start sessions with the ritual of choosing and brewing a pot of tea. I also began serving tea during knitting lessons and pretty much any time someone came over for a chat.<br />
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Meanwhile, I continued learning to serve scrumptious tea meals; right up until the owners of the tea parlor decided it was time to retire, and the tea parlor closed up shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkYCVDn3IcqMvtS8AqXQlOkNCnQzPDe64F6kvhVFa_9HsKESgyg_PZNUfkAdREzH9sWB4YCmX-IS8c7n2EVhGOabfj1fu_cb56eyrumpK84CrWeLPcJ8e-eSlbC8yruSmCWS0__-v6Uvg/s1600/947392_10152808305545564_498770969_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkYCVDn3IcqMvtS8AqXQlOkNCnQzPDe64F6kvhVFa_9HsKESgyg_PZNUfkAdREzH9sWB4YCmX-IS8c7n2EVhGOabfj1fu_cb56eyrumpK84CrWeLPcJ8e-eSlbC8yruSmCWS0__-v6Uvg/s320/947392_10152808305545564_498770969_n%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Day, 2013</td></tr>
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By that time, friends had learned of my "tea ministry" plans and were feeling prompted to send support my way. Beautiful offerings came in the form of gifted tea pots, recipes, a listening ear during my brainstorming sessions and specialty pieces--like this Christmas tea set given to me by a dear friend.<br />
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I've been making good use of those gifts, too! Today I had the opportunity to serve my third Christmas tea of the season. One tea was a larger party for a group of five, but the other teas were quaint two-person affairs. Whether large or small, each time I set to work preparing for a tea, I get nostalgic for the days at the tea parlor. The bright sunny kitchen, the dark lustrous serving rooms--it was altogether a delightful place to work. A delightful place with delightful people, and I miss them all dearly. Part of me sees every humble little tea I serve as a tribute to that lovely time and place.<br />
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Coming up, I'm going to run a blog post or two with a few "staple" recipes and menu plans for a basic tea. But first, I felt that this introduction was appropriate. <br />
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Happy tea party!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-5441917140020535492013-12-17T12:39:00.000-06:002013-12-17T12:39:47.193-06:00WInter Woolen Workshop, Promo Post #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Come sit here with me for a minute! <br />
Let me tell you about a local event coming up that might interest you. <br />
You're not from around here? Bah! You might enjoy at least <em>imagining</em> you can attend...<br />
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In fact, I'm going to give this festival two days worth of blogosphere attention. For one thing, it's worth it. For another, I've committed myself to a daily blog post for a week here, so why in the world would I cram all the photos and info into one post when they could easily fill two?? What festival? The Winter Woolen Workshop, held in Kokomo, Indiana. <br />
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You can get the Kokomo Historical Society's perspective <a href="http://howardcountymuseum.org/events/2014+winter+woolen+workshop/33" target="_blank">here</a>. But, in my opinion, the festival is almost as lovely as a day of personal retreat.<br />
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Held at the beautiful Seiberling Mansion and Elliott House, the environment is dark wood, old world, brocade-and-lace museum-esque, but you'll see that in the pictures of Friday's post.<br />
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As to the fiber-arts-diversity of the festival, the historical society's article offers the following information:<br />
<em>Participants may enjoy the all-day workshops and demonstrations in early samplers, colonial painting, punch needle embroidery, rug hooking, spinning and weaving, hand quilting, tatting, rug punch, needle felting and knitting and crocheting. "There are so many things to try, like learning to hand quilt," Notaro said.</em><br />
<em>A number of clubs, groups and guilds, some with names as colorful as their handiwork, will provide demonstrations and</em><em>...More than 30 vendors will sell items relating to these arts, such as quilting material and punch-needle embroidery, inside the Elliott House. The event will include make-it-and-take-it projects and demonstrations. Those attending may bring a project from home to work on, or try something new at the workshop. Participants will also have the opportunity to sign up for classes with the clubs and guilds.</em><br />
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See there? I told you that you'd enjoy imagining you were there! And if there's a chance you <strong>could</strong> attend, it happens February 22 and 23.<br />
Don't worry. I'll remind you when it gets close to time to go.<br />
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<em></em><br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-6639229255905712132013-12-16T13:45:00.000-06:002013-12-16T14:30:22.914-06:00On the I-don't-even-know-what-number Day of Christmas...This time of year it gets busy.<br />
It just gets too busy.<br />
Still, you want to give your family healthy, hearty meals.<br />
If only you could shave a little time off your cooking schedule somewhere to repurpose it toward gift-wrapping...<br />
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That's what I did today. I started with veggies and broth that were leftover from a roast I baked--of course the roast was eaten whole by this house's meat-eating crew that very night I cooked it. To those I added some fresh stew meat and a can of cream-of-mushroom soup to make a nice hearty stew. Nothing particularly original there.</div>
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But then, I pulled my Italian bread recipe for my bread machine and started playing with some of the ingredients. Nothing major--still flour, water, oil, yeast, etc. I did, however, go to my dried herb stash and do some browsing, eventually choosing rosemary for an herb base. Then I decide to throw in a couple tablespoons of parmesan cheese as well. These changed up the flavoring of the bread just enough to make it "something different." I'll open the jars of thyme and basil to blend into some olive oil for bread-dipping. By the way, a couple of those herb jars are repurposed lemon curd jars. Dried herbs don't require that vacuum seal, so herb storage makes a great way to recycle those glass jars! </div>
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And look what I managed to accomplish today thanks to the involvement of the crock pot and the bread machine:</div>
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Happy gift-wrapping!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-89141557283983808112013-12-14T19:35:00.003-06:002013-12-14T19:35:23.300-06:00Sabbath Rest: Rediscovering the Masculine and Feminine <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We entered a long sort of winter when we lost the masculine and feminine "indicators" in the Hebrew forms of certain words in prophetic books and in the Psalms. <br />
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In their historic language, words like <em>salvation</em> and <em>righteousness</em> had elegantly specific attachments to either God or man based on the gender of the word used. Masculine forms indicated God. Feminine, humanity. What's more, "<em>in the world of the OT period, objects and ideas connected with the sky above were regarded as masculine while the earth below was feminine</em>." <br />
--<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Psalms</u>, by George A.F. Knight, p. 4.)</span><br />
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Therefore, Knight teaches, passages like Isaiah 45:8, become relational in a much more intimate way when historic gender references are applied:<br />
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<em><span style="color: #93c47d;">"Shower, O heavens (masculine), from above</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #93c47d;">and let the skies (masculine) rain down righteousness (masculine, tsedeq);</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #93c47d;">let the earth (feminine) open, that they (people) may bear the fruit of (God's) salvation (masculine),</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #93c47d;">and let it cause righteousness (feminine, tsedaqah) to spring up also (this time out of the ground, or out of the human heart);</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #93c47d;">I the Lord have created it..."</span></em> <br />
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So there is a God-righteousness, but there is also human response. These are as distinctly different as man is from woman...and as complimentary. The feminine expression of "saving love" (which is to say the human form of saving love) is a "<em>compassionate, creative love that a human being can show towards his neighbor.</em>" It is a gift from the masculine Saving-Love, the God-righteousness that must be given first, "<em>by means</em> <em>of which he (the human) can bring his neighbor out of the chaotic power of sin into the joy and peace of God. Those who thus 'recreate' their neighbors have earned the right, as Jesus puts it, to be called children of God</em>." <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ibid. p 5.)</span></div>
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So how do we open the earth when we feel the heavens showering righteousness? </div>
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This is material for a lifetime's worth of meditation for it is the substance of union with God.</div>
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How do we re-create the loveliness of a more distant season? <br />
An "other" domain? <br />
The <em>tsedeq</em>? <br />
Maybe we have dried it, preserved it, arranged it for display. In any case, it is given to us to make an offering of it, and so we do.<br />
It is our<em> tsedaqah</em>, and we have the power to offer it in the beauty of holiness.Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-21968852231226989032013-12-13T13:32:00.002-06:002013-12-13T13:38:13.466-06:00Church-Cookbook Candy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As promised to a few blog readers, I'm sharing an easy peanut brittle recipe included in a church cookbook I found at a garage sale a couple of summers ago. It's a microwave recipe that doesn't even <em>mention</em> a candy thermometer, so if you're like me and pretty novice in the candy-making sphere, you, too, might like this one as a start-up attempt in the craft of candy-making!<br />
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<strong><em>Peanut Brittle</em></strong><br />
<em>1 C peanuts</em><br />
<em>1 C sugar</em><br />
<em>1/4 tsp salt</em><br />
<em>1/2 C white corn syrup</em><br />
<em>1 tsp butter</em><br />
<em>1 tsp vanilla</em><br />
<em>1 tsp baking soda</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Stir peanuts, sugar and salt together; add syrup in 1 1/2 quart glass bowl. Microwave on high 7-8 minutes, stirring well after 4 minutes. At end of 7-8 minutes, add butter and vanilla. Blend well. Return to microwave and cook on high 1-2 minutes more. Remove from oven and add baking soda. Stir until light and foamy. Pour immediately on greased cookie sheet. Cool 30-60 minutes Break into pieces store in airtight container.</em> <br />
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My own experience with this recipe is that the full cooking time option burns the brittle right at the very end, which is discouraging because it smells heavenly until the last 30 seconds or so. On the other hand, the minimum time allotment doesn't seem to draw as good a froth as you might want at the point of adding baking soda. You just might need to experiment on a couple of batches to get the candy the consistency you like. (wink, wink)<br />
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Even more fun than successfully making candy in under 30 minutes (wow!) is hearing the mental echo of the dedication offered in the <u>Bread of Life</u> recipe book as you gather the ingredients and go to work:<br />
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We dedicate this book to all cooks. In our homes today, as always, life is centered around the kitchen. It is with this thought in mind that we, the sponsors, have compiled these recipes. Some of the recipes are treasured family keepsakes and some are new; however, they all reflect the love of good cooking...</blockquote>
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So say the ladies of Salem United Methodist Church in Straughn, Indiana.<br />
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By the way, they have Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday Morning Worship at 10:30 am. <br />
<em>"Visitors Are Always Welcome"</em><br />
Precious, personal, and real...what I love about a cookbook created not by a publisher but by a committee.<br />
Happy candy-making!<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-83390675992031173682013-12-11T10:45:00.002-06:002013-12-11T11:08:24.621-06:00Dreams of Fiber Arts Danced in Their Heads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9Uf4ilW-KTbjibADevzjKRvshNywSFz2cbcThqHaGj1HPND0TCifk_iNMPuj9aM829D2SgXR10sAvpVGGdYG_TMHLrN9cqbTN7ajD9Gu9azXaLDDQRcpXtJWKcMu9NYjS1rZm8uMUrSM/s1600/IMG_6040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9Uf4ilW-KTbjibADevzjKRvshNywSFz2cbcThqHaGj1HPND0TCifk_iNMPuj9aM829D2SgXR10sAvpVGGdYG_TMHLrN9cqbTN7ajD9Gu9azXaLDDQRcpXtJWKcMu9NYjS1rZm8uMUrSM/s320/IMG_6040.JPG" width="221" /></a></div>
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For some of us, the best ideas come at the worst times, times when life is too busy and too harried to add even one more thing.</div>
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But these can also be the best times, because we are already energized and in the best frame of mind for brainstorming.</div>
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A friend and I met at a local coffee shop this morning to have an exploratory meeting for the sake of dream-casting a potential fiber arts ministry group at our church. We both arrived with Christmas projects in hand--mine was a pair of Christmas socks in the making, hers a set of crocheted coasters to include in gift baskets. We spent the first few minutes sipping our coffee and chatting as we worked on the projects. It's somewhat an understood part of the agenda--these meetings must include a prelude of hands-on fiber time and conversation about our current project work. </div>
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Only 10 minutes or so is required, but these minutes set the tone and even do something to the organizational structure of the mental work to come. Then we got down to business and had a very productive first meeting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETFUTYVbShiMI_T1IweZ-jrB6cxEBZjp3YE48ngGRmiySGEW92iG_Eo5A93wZQ0tPO2wxFLc2MYBJaOGMWAQSCk8foP6-ePQeoWTr0w9kKKZkI6GJAFn1hWNpTCb0iadElKapjP-XcB11/s1600/IMG_6011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETFUTYVbShiMI_T1IweZ-jrB6cxEBZjp3YE48ngGRmiySGEW92iG_Eo5A93wZQ0tPO2wxFLc2MYBJaOGMWAQSCk8foP6-ePQeoWTr0w9kKKZkI6GJAFn1hWNpTCb0iadElKapjP-XcB11/s320/IMG_6011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This session, however, was a big shift from a couple of my recent projects. For one, I made fancy party wares for a holiday open house-soiree serving as a fund-raiser to support a friend's toy drive at her church. Bring a toy and receive tea, scones and holiday cookies while browsing the booths.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hTkTnbKt-_3cBxlmVfFpKpCCUYkyEZubo62DFsmv9qob9XXmwMgReNgEssQgxDmtoJN79gOdOwynYRiuAbg_aFy89OpS-N0-OJq46uZH4F0EXXeSm1ObVzAgGdpY7UeHEqLsslYoDEnR/s1600/IMG_6021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hTkTnbKt-_3cBxlmVfFpKpCCUYkyEZubo62DFsmv9qob9XXmwMgReNgEssQgxDmtoJN79gOdOwynYRiuAbg_aFy89OpS-N0-OJq46uZH4F0EXXeSm1ObVzAgGdpY7UeHEqLsslYoDEnR/s320/IMG_6021.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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My booth offered sparkling scarves, hats and headbands; warm-and-wooly hats, gloves and scarves; velvety stockings to hang on the mantle and knitted pomanders for a scented "something extra" to hang on the tree. Working with the shiny, sparkly fibers was fun, but even more pleasant was the atmosphere at the event. The tea, scones and holiday cookies were available to us sales-folk, too; and the salespeople were good friends of mine, so the event felt more like a party than a "work" day at a craft fair.</div>
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That event came right on the heels of one in which I made holiday scarves for my choir's performance at the Gaither Christmas Homecoming concert. Lots of red scarves made all in a row.<br />
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And of course, knitting lessons have woven throughout all these projects, given in the part of the house where the lessons, spiritual direction sessions and ministry teas all happen. Such a great space for building memories of intimate communal gatherings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi-qqAFW3oL_b3869FSZ4x6MwiIp1M54rylTCDFJZwwQIWOln33SMBZ19D1JZF_WyN5yEAfD6vlZIdIPXV-RnAiWoe_apUgX5vBMlwmgOIKJm2dRQV221NnFiX-SAD_1wqOI_v9ORdLLv/s1600/IMG_5749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi-qqAFW3oL_b3869FSZ4x6MwiIp1M54rylTCDFJZwwQIWOln33SMBZ19D1JZF_WyN5yEAfD6vlZIdIPXV-RnAiWoe_apUgX5vBMlwmgOIKJm2dRQV221NnFiX-SAD_1wqOI_v9ORdLLv/s320/IMG_5749.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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All that to say this: if you like diversity in your hobby choice, fiber arts are a great way to go.</div>
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Happy holiday project work!</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-85059881377243952212013-08-24T11:05:00.001-06:002013-08-24T11:08:40.875-06:00What to Do with Too MuchThat time of the season has arrived.<br />
Sooner or later in a good year a common gardener faces it:<br />
How do you process, how do you accept that there is more out there than you can possibly use.<br />
Do you give it away?<br />
Do you chide yourself for planting too much in the first place?<br />
Do you let it go to seed in the hopes that it will re-seed itself and produce volunteer offspring the next year?<br />
The way we face the dilemma tells us more about ourselves than we realize.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUBNniTDRO01bcxDwbpL9pgVD2D3n8QsSFsystOCbS0Fpq-SbiZxpi4IarS37kHIHlBUJzsuCh3teJgeZ3lf0SwZBdx5lYCKJ1RTr3NsdIQh1rLloOBmCl4o9AqdBFbpiPmUgbNbIZOBb/s1600/IMG_5208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUBNniTDRO01bcxDwbpL9pgVD2D3n8QsSFsystOCbS0Fpq-SbiZxpi4IarS37kHIHlBUJzsuCh3teJgeZ3lf0SwZBdx5lYCKJ1RTr3NsdIQh1rLloOBmCl4o9AqdBFbpiPmUgbNbIZOBb/s320/IMG_5208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Early morning today dawned bright and beautiful outside--much more so than within, and so I waited to do my garden tending until I took a bike ride along my favorite river trail.<br />
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And the river, too, was bright and beautiful...and very still. </div>
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I saw two fishermen in the water. </div>
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Two fishermen like statues. Armpit deep. Holding poles. Silent as monks.</div>
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And I thought about gathering.</div>
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I thought how commercial fishermen haul in nets--even back to ancient times.</div>
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The sweat and the strain, the need for much more than enough,</div>
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because more than enough is the only way to sustain the "industry" of it.</div>
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Then I thought of the two old men I saw fishing. </div>
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One fish at a time.</div>
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What different modes of approach for the same activity.</div>
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And it felt like I touched something sacred there.</div>
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We know so well what to do in a dark place: we turn our eyes to whatever bright spot (no matter how dim) we can find. But what do we do when we stand in the brilliance?</div>
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We know what to do in our poverty. We cry our need out to our Maker. </div>
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Our instinct informs us.</div>
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It is our excess, our more than enough that gets us into trouble.</div>
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We forget the best things to do with that. </div>
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So today, after considering the shelf of canned goods and seeing it well-stocked, after visiting the garden and hauling in yet another basket of diverse veggies, I packed a bag for a friend...a friend who offers hospitality to so many others, who has, in fact, committed herself to that as a ministry.</div>
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At one time, I did make an industry of it all--taking my jars of pickled treasure to market and selling them. It was not my calling.</div>
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I fish with a pole.</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-55738219966582300812013-08-22T18:23:00.000-06:002013-08-22T18:23:38.498-06:00Evening in the GardenThe garden is a lot of work.<br />
Don't forget to take the occasional stroll just to appreciate its beauty, too.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvlHclpDi3Cl3W3XWu4uapDmJaTK28oCOBDBEmrlmqByt-9YrY5FlLzeRFDykKQYlGN9YkyaaYj1gn7_0skMYG-UFaXesIG7hKpJtNnYzBg8gWOANYwUe71RiJ97laAtdba6STRnZHwMC/s1600/IMG_2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvlHclpDi3Cl3W3XWu4uapDmJaTK28oCOBDBEmrlmqByt-9YrY5FlLzeRFDykKQYlGN9YkyaaYj1gn7_0skMYG-UFaXesIG7hKpJtNnYzBg8gWOANYwUe71RiJ97laAtdba6STRnZHwMC/s320/IMG_2732.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chive blooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWZc_LhOTK9jreqrLzSTOPUSauwLx-6XE3wL1zFDA6m4ndnMvMCWgJI0GwwUiP4j23pdBuY7PJAphFZMJ3mQw8f5EJjClZKXqF_4EEekME3EvWsxeInxl2S6VEYkOoij-4WqoWfk-_0I1/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWZc_LhOTK9jreqrLzSTOPUSauwLx-6XE3wL1zFDA6m4ndnMvMCWgJI0GwwUiP4j23pdBuY7PJAphFZMJ3mQw8f5EJjClZKXqF_4EEekME3EvWsxeInxl2S6VEYkOoij-4WqoWfk-_0I1/s320/IMG_2737.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">purple kholrabi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHLxP2Z95FHa4fxcJnZkqQq0V86BBUonZbt2BrKh71AfRCLU4sd9NwNqux7LPa76c3_CjaZE98ZUzqrt2MtCNI43uGlGIVChFDUgdU7Vb6XcwNMF9LhH9J0luXrmFbftVEc5aVd6f2MEH/s1600/IMG_2733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHLxP2Z95FHa4fxcJnZkqQq0V86BBUonZbt2BrKh71AfRCLU4sd9NwNqux7LPa76c3_CjaZE98ZUzqrt2MtCNI43uGlGIVChFDUgdU7Vb6XcwNMF9LhH9J0luXrmFbftVEc5aVd6f2MEH/s320/IMG_2733.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bee-teasing perennial</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMEFh1YElQH0ic9p3zN2gYuRnvsTz-qPYRMVNAXGSklqzXkFWtzQn4ndfKWFYJjLJ875viUGGjni2Rc08m1EMajjgn41CXUvWHwZ0YQL32J69UYWN__DhPiUlNyBW22k-zef9UYc7EQHK/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMEFh1YElQH0ic9p3zN2gYuRnvsTz-qPYRMVNAXGSklqzXkFWtzQn4ndfKWFYJjLJ875viUGGjni2Rc08m1EMajjgn41CXUvWHwZ0YQL32J69UYWN__DhPiUlNyBW22k-zef9UYc7EQHK/s320/IMG_2745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">orange zinnia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGpXKK0-zG7o9uR6pzN4h4zi_lmJp6bKh_7IaEjFDzT5kzkLRPrzc1kgR-comO1qIDFitYCJfjEbV0WfVVAEq40XlA5MxkIdCgz-hs4v4CJP69KBBz1UFbkgNU8vm3UNthzlzZNom_J37/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGpXKK0-zG7o9uR6pzN4h4zi_lmJp6bKh_7IaEjFDzT5kzkLRPrzc1kgR-comO1qIDFitYCJfjEbV0WfVVAEq40XlA5MxkIdCgz-hs4v4CJP69KBBz1UFbkgNU8vm3UNthzlzZNom_J37/s320/IMG_2751.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ripe tomato behind the yellow ghost of another tomato blossom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzlqAslkt1PZz9K4w6-D-c3jna-0xKEULsDq1I166llgscC2SkPZ28ZBw3APoeIExy1F-fMdXK5DZroJiR9F5olRJYrl5V-XMSkTlvAwINVVvfMPa0GpHZJ9RLaALftLm3HlCgw0puwRH/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzlqAslkt1PZz9K4w6-D-c3jna-0xKEULsDq1I166llgscC2SkPZ28ZBw3APoeIExy1F-fMdXK5DZroJiR9F5olRJYrl5V-XMSkTlvAwINVVvfMPa0GpHZJ9RLaALftLm3HlCgw0puwRH/s320/IMG_2744.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dill blooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0xDQvQTuHKEjUnn5BT32ylisg5iMjltead4_msIHZLzE2uxbwVkEYVMFMUgr1scnA1zM6XuQyIh7evjvTV8-6ccmAlKvD5yuuMySv-e2cvgnBbtGySmhpZTlc_6r-zje7Wm2dyKb57eJ/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0xDQvQTuHKEjUnn5BT32ylisg5iMjltead4_msIHZLzE2uxbwVkEYVMFMUgr1scnA1zM6XuQyIh7evjvTV8-6ccmAlKvD5yuuMySv-e2cvgnBbtGySmhpZTlc_6r-zje7Wm2dyKb57eJ/s320/IMG_2754.JPG" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sleepy squash blossom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lettuce gone to seed</td></tr>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988881522554697361.post-25488981160897180822013-08-20T13:18:00.000-06:002013-08-20T13:19:18.568-06:00How Much Is Too Much?It's a question every gardener learns to ask carefully; and an answer he or she learns to apply wisely over the seasons. For while the garden looks rather full and verdant here in mid-August...<br />
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it was far less so in July...</div>
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...and even less impressive in June...</div>
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So when the seed packet or the seedling container's little tag advises you of the space requirements for that particular plant, don't just frown and say "You've got to be kidding me!"</div>
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They're not kidding you!</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170870479821467247noreply@blogger.com0